Philip htjfeland



(ModeL) P. HUFELAND.

ALBUM GLASP.

No. 257 012, Patented Apr. 25, 1882.,

HI INVBNTOR BY MK. l

ATTORNEYS.

N. PETERS. Phnlo-Lilhngmpher, Washinglnn. 5.6.

forming a spring bow or loop.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

PHILIP HIIFELAND, OF NEIV YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO E. & H. T. ANTHONY 8t 00., OF SAME PLACE.

ALBUM-CLASP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 257,012, dated April 25, 1882.

Application filed January 21, 1882.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, PHILIP IIUFELAND, of the city, county, and State of New York, have invented a new and Improved Album-Clasp, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

The object ot'my invention is to provide an elastic album-clasp made wholly of ornamental elastic metal for holding the covers of a book or album closed.

The invention consists in a loop or how made of coiled elastic wire adapted to be held at its ends to the edge of a book or album cover.

The invention furthereonsists in a U-shaped stiffening-loop adapted to be passed into the bow or loop made of coiled wire; and the invention also consists of sockets pivoted or hinged to the edge ofthe book or album cover and adapted to contain or receive the ends of the loop or bow made of eoiled' wire, the ends of the bow being secured in the sockets.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification,

in which similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of an album provided'with myimproved clasp. Fig. 2 isa longitudinal elevation of the clasp, parts being shown in section. Fig. 3 is alongitudinal elevation of the U-shaped stiffening-wire or loop of the clasp. Fig. 4 of drawings is a detail view, showing the coiled loop or spring G without the internal loop.

A plate, A, is bent so as to be adapted to be fastened by suitable devices on the edge of a cover, B, of an album or book, (3, and to this plate A a tube or rod, D, is pivoted, and is provided with two tubular projections, E, open at the outer ends. A U--shapedloop,F, is surrounded by a coiled spring, G, the ends of which coil-sprin g G are passed into the tubular projections or sockets E, and are soldered or otherwise secured in these sockets, thus The ends of the loop F will also pass into the sockets E, (within the coil-spring G,) but are not held in these sockets, and can be withdrawn a short distance by stretching the coil-sprin g G.

I have shown the tube 1) pivoted to the (Model) plate A by a pintle, H; butI do not limit myself to this construction, but can pivotthe tube D to the plate Ain any other suitable manner, or can pivot each tubular socketE separately. A bent plate, J, is fastened on the edge of the book or album cover B opposite the cover B, and this plate J is provided with a projecting headed stud, K, or with an outwardly-inclined stud or an equivalent device.

The operation is as follows: When the book or album is closed and the covers are to be locked together the outer end of the how formed by the spiral spring G is drawn outward, whereby the coiled spring will be stretched and the bow will be lengthened, permitting it to be passed over the headed stud K or equivalent device on the plate J. As soon as the spring G is released it will contract and the bow will be shortened, whereby the rounded part of the bow will be pressed firmly against the headed stud K, and thus the bow locks the two covers of. the book or album together. If the covers are to be unlocked, the bow formed by the spiral spring is stretched and swung from the stud K. The wire loop F stiffens the bow and retains the shape of the same, and prevents undue stretching of the bow or the spiral spring forming the same. The coiled loop or spring G may, however, be used alone, as shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings.

Having thus fullyalescribcd my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. An album-clasp made substantially as herein shown and described, and consisting of a loop or how of coiled elastic wire adapted to be held at its ends to the edge of a book or album cover, as set forth.

2. In an album-clasp, the combination, with the swinging sockets E, ofa bow or loop made of coiled wire, the ends of the bow being secured in the sockets, substantially as herein shown and described, and for the purpose set forth.

3. In an album-clasp, the combination, with the swinging sockets E, of abow or loop made of coiled wire, having its ends secured in these sockets, and of a U-shaped loop or stiffening-wire, F ,containecl within the bow J, providetlwith a headed stud or catch, K; formed vby thecoiled wire, substantially as heresubstantially as herein shown and described, [0 in shown and described, and for the purpose and for the purpose set forth.

set forth. 5 4.' In an albn1n-clasp,tl1e combination, with PHILIP HUFELAND' the plate A, provided with swinging sockets itnesses: E, of a bow or loop made of coiled wire, sur- OSCAR F. GUNZ, rounding a U-shapedloop, F, and of the plate C. SEDGWICK. 

